Review of Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) by Definitelymayb — 01 Aug 2018

What can I say, I loved the original DePalma MI and Ghost Protocol, and I thought Rogue nation was really good despite some flaws. Unfortunately, despite my eager anticipation for MI: Fallout, I was really disiappointed with the film because it had many problems compared with the other ones. I know I'm suppose to shut my brain for these films but the convuluted plot, hollow character arcs, general lack of tension/levity and multiple plot contrivances made it very hollow after the credits start rolling. First, there are some amazing things about this film. The action and scene flow of the middle section is superb and by far one of the most exhillarating experiences I had. Even seeing Tom Cruise at the old ripe age of 56 pulling of his own stunts is a sight to behold. There is a very exciting fake out in the middle film, and much of the chemistry of the characters still exist in this new installment with the White Widow stealing every scene she is in. However, the film is filled with many problems that make it less enjoyable compared with the rest.

The first problem noticable is that the opening scene(s) before even the credit starts takes way too long and is excruciatingly ponderous. We literally have 4 different scenes which amount to roughly 20 minutes of screentime before the credit role. This makes the film really poorly set up to begin with as characters come and go, and we are uncertain on where the characters are, who is who and what is established after two years since Rogue Nation. Henry Cavill's character is also a bumbling iditot which makes his latter purpose of the film much more ineffective. The first act takes really long to get going and when it does in Paris, its gets very convuluted with little screen time to digest what is actually going on. However, that said once the actual plot gets going, it becomes much more tolerable.

Another problem is that some of the action and choreography aint that great. Many people raved about the Bathroom scene, but that was really short and didnt have much action as compred to films such as John Wick, Oldboy etc. It was meh. Secondly the music is relatively boring and non-existent, as it was clear the new composer is very different from the previous one that worked on Rogue Nation with all the ochestral elements. Also the film paces very slow to get to the middle act. The third act is also filled with plot contrivances but you would know it because they literally spend 10 minutes talking about the character relationships and what is going to happen etc. Another character intergral to the series just randomly appears as well during this time, whilst Henry Cavilles character is reduced to being another generic side character by the end.

Its a shame that MI:Fallout doesn't flow as well as MI:4 and MI:5, but the plot contrivances and plot holes definitely make it one of the most shallowest. I wish they had developed the relationship between the characters more as there is one crucial scene in the middle was executed really well compared with the others. It is an enjoyable film but one that you will probably quickly forget by the end.